Board approves ACE turnaround for Bolter Middle School, names Nathan Harbor principal
Loading...
Summary
Trustees approved an Accelerated Campus of Excellence (ACE) plan for Bolter Middle School, which includes staffing incentives, extended instructional days and increased student supports; Nathan Harbor was introduced as the new Bolter principal.
Tyler ISD’s board voted to approve an Accelerated Campus of Excellence (ACE) plan for Bolter Middle School and heard administration’s plan for staffing, calendar changes and student supports as part of a turnaround strategy.
Presenter (identified in the transcript as Dr. Martin) described five ACE pillars: strategic staffing (including TIA-designated teachers for 50% of core positions), instructional excellence with real-time teacher proficiency measurement, community "dyads" for specialized electives, extended-learning time via ADC days, and expanded student supports including an SEL counselor and deans of students. "ACE does require 50% of those core teachers to be TIA designated," the presenter told trustees while outlining staffing expectations.
Trustees pressed the administration on how the district will recruit and retain the teachers ACE requires, whether transfers will "raid" other campuses, how extracurriculars fit the model and how many new TIA slots the campus will need. Administration said it would cap the number of teachers moving from a single campus, offer competitive compensation, and report ACE instructional proficiency to the board monthly.
Trustee (speaker 4) moved to approve the ACE plan; Trustee (speaker 7) seconded the motion and the board recorded the motion as carried.
Administration also introduced Mr. Nathan Harbor, the current principal at Orr Elementary School, as the new principal designated to lead Bolter through the ACE redesign. Harbor addressed the board briefly, thanking trustees and saying he looks forward to working with the staff and students.
Public comment earlier in the meeting had asked the board to consider timing and representation when changing Bolter’s principal; Reverend Rodney C. Curry urged sensitivity to the timing of the announcement and raised concerns about minority male representation among secondary principals. Administration said staff communications and human-resources supports will follow the board’s action to help affected employees.
The ACE approval directs the administration to implement the model and return reports to the board on instructional metrics and staffing changes as the plan is put in place.
